Local Women Build Houses for National Women Build Week Celebration May 7 in West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today joined thousands of women nationwide who answered the challenge from Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's to help eliminate poverty housing during National Women Build Week, May 1–7, 2011. Commissioner Grifa lent her home construction skills to Habitat Newark and assisted local women volunteers in manning tools and materials to work on one family's new home at 112 Whittlesey Avenue in West Orange.

"The National Women Build Week initiative is such a worthwhile project. It challenges women to devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing and it demonstrates that women can make a difference in their communities by building homes and raising awareness of local housing needs," said Commissioner Grifa. "I'm proud to partner with Habitat Newark and the Women Build Initiative to bring attention to staggering number of those in need of adequate housing."

In the days leading up to Mother's Day, around 7,000 women volunteers are expected to build at more than 200 Habitat for Humanity construction sites across all 50 states. Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide. Women Build events have helped to construct more than 1,800 houses.

National Women Build Week is an initiative of Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program, underwritten by Lowe's, which recruits, educates and nurtures women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.

Lowe's is providing Habitat for Humanity Newark a $5,000 Lowe's store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training, in support of this one-day build. Nationwide, Lowe's committed more than $1 million to National Women Build Week, providing gift cards and event materials to 200 Habitat affiliates.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity or the National Women Build Initiative, visit www.habitat.org.